City pair star in easy win over Roar

Melbourne City imports Yonatan Cohen and Andreas Kuen combined on Friday night to add further misery to Brisbane Roar’s already disastrous A-League season.

Israeli attacker Cohen netted a brace, while Austrian midfielder Kuen scored and was the provider of two assists as City beat Brisbane 4-1 at Suncorp Stadium.

Steven Ugarkovic also found the back of the net for a City side that claimed its fourth win from six games this season,

The victory was also a performance of redemption after a disappointing 2-0 home loss to Western Sydney Wanderers last Sunday.

While City is comfortably perched in the top six, Brisbane is rock bottom on the A-League ladder, having picked up just one point from a possible 18.

Signs were immediate that it was going to be another poor night for the Roar when a shocking mistake from recently returned defender Scott Neville led to City taking the lead in the first minute.

Neville dawdled on the ball and was easily dispossessed by Kuen, who then charged into the Roar’s penalty area and unleashed a shot that deflected off Brisbane captain Jay O’Shea on its way to the back of the net.

Scorer turned provider in the 18th minute when Kuen laid the ball into the path of Cohen, who smashed the ball past Brisbane goalkeeper Macklin Freke to double the Melbourne club’s advantage.

It was only the woodwork that prevented Cohen further extending City’s lead on the stroke of half-time with a blistering strike that had Freke beaten.

However, Cohen eventually nabbed his double and sealed City’s win with a superb first-time strike in the 70th-minute after being fed by Kuen.

The Roar pulled a goal back from the penalty shot through O’Shea – who had earlier hit the post with a free-kick – seven minutes later after a foul by Nathaniel Atkinson on Brisbane substitute Jacob Brazete

However, it was merely a blip on City’s radar, with Ugarkovic re-establishing his team’s three-goal advantage in the 82nd minute.

“It was obviously a good result,” Ugarkovic told Paramount Plus.

“We started really well, getting a goal early and putting the pressure on.”

Ugarkovic was full of praise for Kuen and Cohen.

“Tonight they hit their stride. They were both excellent, and we can build on this,” he said.

“It’s important that we build on this week and stay focused.”

Roar skipper O’Shea was disappointed with his side’s start.

“To go 2-0 down at home and then chasing the game … it’s just not good enough,” O’Shea said.

“We need to get better. It’s up to us to try to get our confidence back up.”